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AB Heritage celebrates 10 Years!

This July AB Heritage celebrates its 10 year anniversary and it has been some journey since the first steps way back in 2009.

The company is a completely different entity to what was originally set up as the classic one man band (me) working all hours I could from the kitchen table. I now have a nicer desk.

Joking aside the change has been huge. Over the years AB Heritage has developed into an employer, bringing in some fantastic team members to help our clients with their works. From working out of a single location we now have our team working across the country and undertaking works nationally. Our works initially comprised the production of baseline archaeological reports but has grown to encompass Archaeology Desk-Based Assessments, Heritage Statements, all forms of Historic Building Recording, production of Written Schemes of Investigation, the design and management of on-site archaeological fieldworks, Geophysical Survey, early site appraisal and high level strategic archaeology management on complex schemes.

When I look back across the projects we have successfully completed for clients these too have grown broadly, from providing archaeological project management for major infrastructure projects such as Crossrail, HS1, and roadworks (including the M25, A14, and A477) to literally hundreds and hundreds of residential, commercial, energy, recreational and education developments, such as the one at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr where 5 ancient ring ditches were discovered!.

We have worked embedded within complex teams of multi-disciplinary companies to advocating for owner occupiers as they work through the planning process to achieve their singular goals. We are, quite simply, there to provide the answers our clients need whenever and however these are needed. We provide the right answers for those we work with. Even if on the odd occasion we might have to give the bad news – we want our clients to have a friendly and responsive service they can rely on, not lip service on heritage issues that ends up with them having to literally dig themselves out of a hole at a later date. This personal touch often marks the real difference between a large organisation and a smaller one – that and being flexible and fleet of foot, to meet clients schedules.

As with all business AB Heritage has faced ups and downs, with a fair share of disruptive events to contend with. From the credit crunch to austerity (which combined led to dramatically reduced numbers of professional archaeologists available to support Local Planning authorities). We have faced the consequences of election after election after Brexit referendum - a huge range of change throughout our 10 years. What has remained unchanged, however, is HM Government’s commitment to protecting the country’s heritage – seen and unseen. With over 90% of archaeological findings coming about through development, it is our job and our pleasure to help our clients manage these historic environment requirements sensitively, yet always commercially, to protect heritage assets while helping progress much needed housing and infrastructure for the nation.

I feel AB Heritage has grown up into a fantastic place to work, and a company that our clients enjoy working with. From my own perspective I have had the most incredible 10 years. I started out as a consultant and have ended up running a company staffed by a team of the most dedicated and expert people I have had the pleasure to meet. Looking back to how we have got to where we are now, I am proud of the hard work of so many people who cared to make AB Heritage more than it was each and every day.

The next 10 years is, of course, unwritten but we have ambitions to capitalise on the lessons we have had and take advantages of all opportunities that come our way. An increase in the technical team size here and there will of course be part of that, but the real focus will be on driving up standards and productivity to get our clients the best archaeology and heritage products in the market, on time and when they need them.

Archaeology as a discipline within the planning system will always evolve, and we will be at the forefront of helping manage those changes on the behalf of our clients. One thing that will never change will be our commitment to you, our loyal customers, to be the friendly and responsive service you can always rely on.